24th September 2023 – (Hangzhou) Hong Kong’s fencers, Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Ryan Choi, have fought their way into the semi-finals of the men’s individual sabre event at the Hangzhou Asian Games. This achievement guarantees Hong Kong at least two medals as there will be no bronze medal match. Cheung, who clinched the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, displayed his exceptional skills by staging a remarkable comeback against Japan’s Shikine Takahiro, ranked 29th in the world. Cheung trailed 1-3 initially but quickly turned the tables with a series of impressive moves, surging ahead to 6-3. However, Shikine fought back, leaving Cheung trailing 9-10 at the end of the first round. In the second round, Shikine increased his pace, putting Cheung at a disadvantage of 12-14. But Cheung showed his resilience and launched a stunning counter-attack, winning the round 15-14 and securing his spot in the final.
The final, scheduled for 8.10pm, will see Cheung face off against China’s Chen Haiwei. Cheung’s impressive performance has already secured him a silver medal, but he aims to go for gold and achieve his personal best. Cheung’s journey to the final has been nothing short of exceptional, and he is determined to make history by clinching the top spot on the podium.
In another intense semi-final match, Ryan Choi competed against China’s Chen Hoi-wai, the bronze medalist in the 2014 individual event. Choi and Chen have met three times before, with Choi winning once. Choi initially took the lead in the first round with a score of 6-4. However, Chen made a comeback in the second round, surpassing Choi with a score of 11-9. In the decisive round, Choi found himself trailing 9-13 but managed to mount an impressive comeback, scoring four consecutive points to tie the match at 13-13. Despite Chen gaining one more point, Choi showed his determination and delivered a crucial strike, securing his place in the semi-finals and earning his first-ever Asian Games medal. Choi’s bronze medal is a significant achievement and marks a personal milestone for him.